Hey all,
I'm looking at a truck that is original owner from Minnesota, but it looks like it is rust free. The guy selling it claims there is no rust under the doors and the underbody paint is still in pretty good shape. I'm still trying to get more pictures before I'm willing to make the trip and fork out the money. But back to the point, if I do hold out for a southern truck are they still plagued with rusty doorskins since it was a drainage problem?

A little more about the truck, 98 QC, 4x4, properly valved (12 ), shortbed, auto, 160k miles, no gooseneck, has spray in bedliner, tonneau cover, it is also supposed to be real clean and rust free. No oil leaks (no KDP), shifts smooth, doesn't pull or wander, and no mods. I'm thinking of offering around $13k which is about a couple less than he is asking. Sound reasonable or am I low?

Thanks in advance,

 

I wouldn't let the door problem scare you off. As for rust, thats the main place to watch, but for the cost of doors, if you can find a steal on a truck, then go for it and worry about the doors later. I'm in the middle of replacing my doors on my '96 right now, and its not bad at all. I got my doors for free from my father, but even buying a pair of rust-free used doors isn't bad.

As for the price, unless prices are higher where you are than in New England, the price is way high. Here are a couple ads I found just now (current ads, if anyone wants to call about them):

97 DODGE RAM 2500 EXT CAB 4X4. Cummins turbo diesel, 5-spd. Long bed. Never plowed. Gd cond. Wht w/cloth int, 100K mi. Cruise, AC, AM-FM cass, CD player, p/windows & a great sound sys. Runs great, vy dependable. No problems. New baby on the way forces sale. Asking $13,200; Call Julie. (Derry, NH) 603-893-1831

96 DODGE RAM 2500. 8800 GVW. Cummins turbo diesel. Blk. 210K mi. 8' Fisher plow. Gd cond. $8500; (Worcester) 508-791-2826

99 DODGE 2500 PU QUAD CAB DIESEL 4X4. AZ truck. 84K mi, SLT, loaded. Exc cond. $16,000; (Woodsville, NH) 603-747-8229

95 DODGE RAM 2500 LARAMIE SLT. Diesel, 4WD. Std cab. Tow pkg. 179K mi, mostly hwy. Never plowed with. New tires & brakes. $4900; (Stoughton) 781-344-2957

Jim

 

My truck is born and raised in AZ and is for all practical purposes has no rust. I know when it comes time to sell I'll be dropping it off with my dad in South Dakota. A straight rust free truck that still has a tailgate that works is a rare breed in those parts. It's a whole different world working on cars down here. Even after 10 years sockets still fit on nuts and bolts, and they even LOOSEN!!

 

Living in northern New Hampshire, and working as a tech in a new area, I'm surprised at how quickly even new vehicles can be eaten by rust. I have replaced fuel and brake lines on 2002 and newer vehicles because of rust! Just the 200 mile move north makes a difference, and there was always a noticable difference between where I used to live (southern N.H.) and Mass. vehicles. Yea, they still got rust, but it wasn't *expected* like it is up here. I would love to move out to the southwest where rust is just the brown color that appears on the roofs of old vehicles after the sun has baked the paint off, and not large, gaping holes in the floors and rocker panels!

Jim

 

Actually I'm thinking of the inverse you are, the truck I'm looking at was registered in the salt belt. I'm just trying to figure out what is to gain or lose by buying one that looks good but may have been in salt. More or less it is comparing the southern trucks with rust under the doors to this one from Iowa with possibly seized bolts but no rust under the doors. Thank for the inputs, keep em cummin.

 

Maybe I got a steal but that price sounds high.
I picked my 2001.5 2WD with 117,000 miles up on Ebay for $10800 and only had to drive 6 hours to get it.
Mine has a few rust spots on the bottom of the doors but it isn't noticeable unless you are right down there looking for it.

 

A 98 quad cab 4wd 12V shortbed can't really be compared with most other trucks fairly since it is such a rare combination. It has the body of a 98-02 but the motor from the 94-98, there weren't very many of these made.

 

I used to live in Mich and worked on the rust buckets of the area. Just 1 or 2 years and the rust gets noticable, and fewer things are willing to co operate in comming apart. I now live in Southern NM and love it. The only rusted vehicles around here are ones imported from northern states. I will always hold out for a south western vehicle. Then paint it and undercoat it if you are going north with it.

 

Yea, well the way this guy is dragging his feet getting me more pictures of it I may end up finding something else (I check autotrader and eBay everyday) before I'm ready to buy this one. I just don't want to drive 10 hours and still end up with a rusty truck.

 

Find the southern truck!! I moved to NC from NY and the rust still plauges me!!!